Coin-freed prepayment mechanism.



Wi HAMILTON.

G01N FREED PREPAYMENT MECHANSM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907.

Patented Mau. 29, 1193.0.

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W. HAMILTON.

G01N PREED PREPAYMENT MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907.

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PPLIGATIOE EILED NOV. i., lQO'I.

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ANDREW s Gimme cc. PnowJJwoGnAvnins. wmmrxcmm O c vv'rmraivi 'Herrin-Lion, or norrrnwoon, niverisnn, Assrolvon ro rnnnanfrr LIMITED, or normnvvoon, mieten-n.

COIN-FREED PREPAYMENT IJIJCHANISM'.

Application filed November Il, 397.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, l-.Vimmii Paint/rer?, a subject of the King oi Great Britain and ireland, and residing at follinwood, in vthe county ot' Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful improvements in and Relating to Coin-.Freed Prepayment hiechanism, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to coin-treed prepayment mechanism and is especially applicable to such mechanisms as are used in conjunction with gas and electricity meters.

This invention consists broadly in a coin treed prepayment mechanism in which means are provided tor reducing the power reqiiired to retain 'the controlling mechanism in its operative position or release it 'there from.

This invention consists more specitically in a coin-freed prcpaijiment mechanism for meters in which a train ot gearing is interposed. between the release and iiuid control gears whereby a substantial reduction is eiiected in the power required to release the control gear or retain it in the operativo position.

This invention also consists in the improved coin receiving apparatus and in the prepayment. mechanism to he herein-sitter described.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention and term part ot the specification, Figure i shows a front elevation of a meter provided with prepayment mechanisn'i according to my invention, Fig. 2 shows a side elevation ot the view shown in Fig. l with the meter portion removed, F ig. 3 is an elevation of the prepayment mechanism with the front plate removed. Figs. Li and 5 are detail views of the mechanism showing the switch in the open and closed positions respectivelv, "tl ig. (3 is a part plan view showing the ditierential gearing, Figs. i and 8 are detail views ot the coin receiver.

In carrying the invention into eiiect according to one forni and as applied by way et example to an electricity meter, ay coin shaft, a, Figs. 2 and is rotatably i'iiounted in a :trame composed oiA :iront and back plates, L, and c, respectively, assembled in any suitable manner, this frame is pieten ably mounted on the structure, (l, wh ich cars ries the meter. To the coin shaft a cylin- Speccation of Letters Patent.

,l drical coin receiver, c, rigs. and 8, is attaohed which rotates in a easing, lt', disposed on the iront `plate, the end oit the re eeiver being suitably termed for attaching the operating hardle, g, thereto.

in the cylindriiail coin receiver a chant ber, 72 is termed into which the coins discharging from the coin guide, 2', Figs. '1 and 2, are conducted, the external casing et the coin receiver being dispensed with in prei:- imity vto the coin guide so as to allow the coin to enter the receiver and also for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

lVhen no coin has been introduced into the receiver the operating handle can only be partially rotated as its movement is limited by a stop, j, on the coin receiver strilo ing against stops, /c and tf, on the frontl plate, Figs. .7 and S. The stop, in the coin receiver is mounted on a spring, Z, which forms the bottom ot the chamber, z., into which the coin is discharged from the coin guide, and is adapted to be prevented from engaging with the iiXed stop, 75, when the coin is inserted and the operating handle, g, is rotated. T

,he above .result is effected by forming the ai erture, fm, in the casing at the coin guide ot suiiieient size to accommodate the coins used, at the initial position ot the coin receiver, e'. c., when the stop, j, abuts against the stop, 71;, and the chamber, lz, in the coin receiver registers with the coin guide, i', while for the part ot the revolution ot the receiver corresponding to the amount oit movement of the coin shaft between the stops, i and 7e, the apertnre in the easing is diminished in width as shown in F ig. Q, so that the coin may project from the receiver. The restricted width or" the aperture acts to retain coins of the correct size while allo ving smaller ones to vij'all out, thereby preventing disarrangement the receiver and coin shaft are rotated on the manipulation of the operating handle.

When the coin receiver into which a coin has been introduced has arrived at the position where the engagement of the stops hereinbefore ret'erred to is effected the part ot the coin. which projects from the receiver comes into contact with a projection, a, Figs. l and 7, fori'ned on the stationary casing, thereby causing the coin to be forced against the spring Z, which forms the bottom of the coin chamber and preventing the enga-gement ot the stops, j, and 7c. @n continuing the rotation of the operating handle, the switch for the current is closed in a manner to be hereinafter described whil the coin on coming opposite a second opening, 0, in the casing is discharged into the coin receptacle, further rotation of the coin shaft being prevented on the reengagement of the stops, j, and iis this engagement of the (2o-acting stops can only be effected when the aperture in the casing is closed, fraudulent tampering of tlie mechanism by wires or other devices, is prevented. -t will thus be understood that tie insertion of a coin in the coin guide allows a complete revolution of the coin shaft to be effected on the manipulation of the operating handle.

A shaft, j), carrying lift rential gearing,

g, Figs. Q and (3, is rotatably monnted on the same frar-.e the coin shaft, the. diifferential gear preferably consisting' of sleeve. r, rigic ly attacned to the shaft, j), and carrying a oinion, s, which engages with crown wheels, t and H, disposed on either side of the sle ye and forming the other members of the dierential train. rhe shaft or. which the diiferential gear .is mounted, earries a pointer, o, for indicating the amount of current prepaid. The sleere just mentioned also carries an adjustably weighted lever, tu, and a stop, fr, Figs. 3, t and 5, the lever assisting the stop to free the switch mechanism when the amount of current prepaid ha.l passed through the mete l spar wheel, y, is rigidly attached to the crown wheel, n, in the differential train and is connected through suitable gearing, e', with the meter spindle, 1, 1, a star-wheel, being attached to the crown wheel, zt, and engaging with a` single tooth, I5, formed on the coin shaft, a, so that for every revolution of the coin shaft the star-wheeL is rotated through the distance of one tooth. )i spring-mounted pawl, si, Fig. also en gages with the star-wheel so as to retain it in any given )osition while at the same tme permitting of its rotation when required.

rhe switch which may preferably be of the knife type consists of a stationary member, 5, Figs. 1, 3, et and 5, fixed to the structure carrying the meter and prepayment mechanism and a knife member, rotatably mounted on a shaft, T, on the frame which carries the shaft of the coin mechanism and the differential gearing. The switch is retained in the open position by means of a coil or other spring, 8, attached to the knife member, one of the sides of which is sha yed as shown so as to form a projection, which abuts against a stop, Bil, when the switch is in the ouen position; the other side of the knife member is shape@L so as to form a cam surface, L, and operates in a manner to be described hereafter.

r1`he knife member carries at its lower eX- tremit i a tooth or n'o'ection. 9. which engages with a detent wheel, 10, rotatably mounted on a, swinging member, 11, mounted co-axially with the knife member. A pinion. l2, and cam. 13, are mounted on the shaft, '7, which forms the axis of the knife and swinging members, the pinion, 12, being in gear with a train of wheels, 1st, mounted on the swinging member, 11, the last wheel, 2t), of which train is rotatablyT mounted on the same shaft, as the detent wheel, 10, which engages with the tooth or projection, 9, on the knife member before mentioned, while the cam, 1B, is provided with a projection, 15, which engages with a trip lhnger, 16, rotatably mounted on the swinging member and normally kept in contact with the cam by means of a spring, 17. The detent wheel, 10, is connected to the wheel, 29, of the train by means of a ratchet wheel, 30, fixed to the wheel, 10, and a pawl, 31, fixed to the wheel, 29, in such a manner that the rotation of the detent wheel, 10, relatively to the wheel, :29, can only take place in one direction. rThe detent wheel, 10, is limited in its motion in one direction by the spring, 1S, attached to the swinging member, 11, and in the other direction by means of the stop, 19, also fixed to the member, 11, and against which a tooth, 20, on the detent wheel abats. n stop, 21, is disposed in a suitable position for limiting the motion of the swinging member, 11, which is kept pressed there against by means of a spring, 22, fixed to the frame so thaty any motion of the swinging member takes place against the tension therein.

ln the upper extremity of the swinging member a lever arm, Q23, Fig. 5, carrying a pin, 2li, is piyotally mounted, the motion of the arm being' limited by a stop, 36. This pin, 24, when the switch is on open circuit lies in the path of a cam, 25, rigidly fixed to the coin shaft, d, but when the switch is put on closed circuit a second pivotally mounted leyer, 2G, rotatably mounted on the 'frame and operated by the cam surface, 30, it 25, on the knife member causes the pin, 2st, to be lifted clear of the cam, 25, on the coin shaft, and allows the coin shaft to be rotated when the switch is closed.

in order to prevent the manipulation of the operating handle after the full amount has been prepaid which is permissible at ai y one time, the stop, ai, Figs. 3, e and 5, on the sleeve of the differential train engages with a pin, 3T, on the l ver, 27, pivotally mounted on the frame and limited in its motion by the stops, 3S and 39, pin, 28, fixed on this lever is thereby raised into the path of, and prevents the motion of the cam, Q5, fixed on the coin shaft, until the meter has passed at least an amountof fluid corresponding to the Value of one coin.

tressure applied to tne coin shaft, while in this position, is transmitted through the cam, 25, to the lever, 2?, and then to the frame. rlhas the meter Aand prepayi'nent trainwork have no undue pressure to bear, and the meter record is not impaired4 Recording mechanism, 33, Fig. 1, et' any known type for indicating the amount oi current prepaid cooperates with the rotatirm of the coin shaft. The prejiayment mechanism is preferably mounted on the structure carrying the meter in order lo arrange the device in as compacta manner as possible.

The operation et the device is as follows tin the insertion ot a coin in the coin guide, if, the operating handle, g, is rotated through a complete revolution during which the cam, :'55, on thc coin shaft causes the swinging member, 11, to move forward and eiiect the engagement of the detent wheel, 10, thereon with the projection, 9, on the knife member, o. ldf'hen the detent wheel, 10, intermeshes with the projection, 9, the knife member, G, and the swinging member, 11, are locked together as the detcnt wheel, 1G, is prevented from rotating independently of the wheel, 18, by the pawl, 31, while the wheel 18, itself being in gear with the train lil, is prevented il'rom rotating in the opposite direction by lhVx engagement ol the linger, 16, with the ln'ojection, 15, on the cam wheel, 13. 50th members being thus locked together the tension on the spring, 22, causes the members 5 and (i, to engage and the switch to be closed. During this operation the tooth, 3, on the coin shatthas moved the star-wheel, 2, through the distance ot one tooth and allowed the trip linger, 1G, on the swinging member, 11, to engage with the projection, 15, on the cam, 13, thereby preventing the opening oit the switch. Gn .inserting more coins in order to prepay the full amount of current permissible at one time the star- 'wbeel, Q, on the diti'crential train is rotated one tooth or every revolution of the coin shaft until the stop motion hereinbetore described comes into operation to prevent furthe rotation. The meter mechanism which starts recordingI when the switch is closed is geared to the member, t, ci the diterential train and by its rotation causes the sleeve, r, of the dii'i'erential train. to rotate in the reverse direction to that above described until the amount et current prepaid has passed through the meter when the stop, :0, on the sleeve comes in contactA with the trip tinger, lo, on t ie swinging member, 11, and releases it trom the cam, 13, Fig. 3 whereupon the tension in the coiled spring, 8, cooperating with the hnitc member, causes the opening ot the switch.

it will be evident that by interposing a train ot gearing between the cam, 13, on the axle et' the swing member and the tooth, 9, on the imite member the pressure required le release the switch or hold it in the closed position is reduced to a minimum while the l l l l construction oit the coin receiver and the mechanism cooperating therewith is such as to provide an exceedingly compact and etlic'ient coin-treed prepayment mechanism.

Although the jfresent invention has been described with reference to an electricity meter it is not` to be regarded as limited to such application as it can be applied to other devices operated by coin .treed mechanism 'without doj'iarting trom the scope ot the present invention.'

lia-ving thns described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by lietters Patent i l. in combination a movable coin-carryingl membc Q, a handle directly connected to said movable coin-carrying member and operable directly by a. purchaser, a stationary member` coacting stops on said members for lin'iiting the movement of said movable member under certain conditions, together with means disposed externally to said movable member and cooperating with a coin partially projecting from said movable member for disengaging said stops on the actuation ot said movable member,

in combination a stationary casing, a movable coin-carrying member in said casing, a handle directly connected to said movable coin-cariying member and operable directly by a purchaser, stops on said casing and movable member together with means disposed on the outside of said casing' and coacting with a com partially projecting i'roin said casing tor disengaging said stops on the actuation of said movable member.

3. ln combination a flexible bottomed n'ievable coin-carrying men'iber, a handle directly connected to said movable coin-carrying member and operable directly by a purchaser, a stationary member. stops on said members, means co-acting with a coin carried b v the movable member for actuating said stops, said means including a member external. to said movable member with which the coin contacts on the rotation of said movable mei'iiber.

in a coin-freed prepayment mechanism the combination of a casing, a movable coin-carrying member in said casing, a. handle directly connected to said movable coincarrying member and operable directly by a purchaser coacting stops on said casing and said movable :memberv` together with means external to said casing and coacting with the coin projecting from the same for disengaging said stops on actuation oit' said movable member.

ln a coin-freed prepayment mechanism, the combination of a casing, a momble coincarrying member in said casing, a handle directly connected to said movable coin-carrying .member and operable directly by a purehaeer, meane for retaining.;` a coin in said 4 movable member so as to partiall)T project trom said easing tor a certain part of the I1iO\,'Qnient of Said with means for fort-ing said coin Wholljv within said caeing at a predetermined point ot' the movement oi' said movable member.

6. ln a eoinireed prepayment mechanism the con'ibination of a casing having an aperture therein of a Width greater than the eoin used at a certain point of said aperture7 and of less Width at other parts of said aperture, and a tiexible bottomed movable coin receiving member ot normallyv less depth than the diameter of said coin, together -with means externally disposed in said easing and coacting with a coin in said receiving member for flexing the bottom of Said movable member.

T. ln a coin-treed prepayment mechanmovable member together iam the combination or' a casing having an aperture therein ot a Width greater than the coin need at a certain part of said aperture, and of lese Width at certain other parte of said aperture, a plurality of stops on said casing'. a flexible bottomed movable coin receiving member ot normally lese depth than the diameter oit' the coin need, a Stop on the bottom or' said receiving chamber coacting with said above mentioned stops, together with meane externallyY disposed in Said caeing for liexing the bottom or Said movable member and disengag'ing Said stops.

n teff-trimm)Y whereof, l al'lix mv Signature in presence ot txvo Witneeses.

VILLIM HMUJTUN lllitneseee Vivian ARTHUR liner-riss7 lnoims HAROLD Momie. 

